| UK Government sets policy goals for appliances |
20 Aug 2008 |
| The UK Government has outlined its proposed actions to improve the environmental performance of products and their supply chains. This is the result of a consultation earlier this year to which AMDEA responded. DEFRA has published 12 Policy Briefs covering 12 product groups. These will be reviewed annually and will be used to guide and support Government policy relating to EU standards and labelling. The product groups of interest to AMDEA members include domestic cold appliances, wet products, cooking products and heating and hot water systems. |
| AMDEA attends international safety of appliances meeting in Tokyo |
24 Jun 2008 |
| Stuart MacConnacher of AMDEA attended several international committee meetings within the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) in Tokyo, Japan over the course of two weeks in May/June. The meetings considered issues of general safety of appliances, safety of refrigeration, fire hazard testing and external temperatures of appliances. |
| AMDEA selected to represent UK on international environmental standards body |
24 Jun 2008 |
| The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the organization that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies. It has set up a number of advisory committees for different subject areas. One of these committees is ACEA (the Advisory Committee on Environmental Aspects). ACEA comprises one person per country with a maximum of 12 members total and Richard Hughes of AMDEA has been selected as the UK representative. |
| Time to Change Workshop for EST Energy Advisors Held on 1 May |
20 May 2008 |
| AMDEA joined forces with Severn and Wye Energy Agency as part of the Time to Change campaign to help inform consumers of energy efficiency issues in relation to major white goods. On 1 May a workshop was organised at Miele’s headquarters in Abingdon particularly aimed for the Energy Saving Trusts’ Energy Advisers across the country. These energy advisors play a crucial role in informing the public and responding to their queries on how to improve energy use in their homes. Over 50 participants took up the invitation to take part in the full day workshop to explore technology developed over the last decade to improve the energy efficiency of cold appliances. |
| Public Consultation on Reduced Rates of VAT |
20 May 2008 |
| In March this year, heads of state and government from the EU’s 27 member states agreed to consider a Franco-British proposal to cut value-added tax (VAT) on certain environmentally-friendly goods. The European Commission has now launched a public consultation on a review of existing legislation on VAT reduced rates. The consultation specifically asks about reduced VAT-rates for environmentally friendly goods. AMDEA believes there are more effective ways to encourage consumers to purchase energy efficient appliances such as direct tax credits, currently in place in a number of Member States. |
| ‘Time to Change’ well received during the EU Energy Sustainability Week |
28 Feb 2008 |
| Douglas Herbison of AMDEA presented the main elements of the Time to Change Campaign during the EU’s Energy Sustainability Week in Brussels. The event is the key reference for sustainable energy issues in Europe. CECED had the morning of the 29th of January reserved to share its experiences on the better and early replacement of household appliances, including successful projects in the Member States. Along with AMDEA, presentations on their early replacement campaign were delivered by delegates from Spain and Hungary. |
| Competition Winners Get Brand New Fridge! |
25 Feb 2008 |
| AMDEA’s Time to Change competition to find Britain’s Oldest Working Fridge was won by Betty and Graham Guntrip. The Guntrips, who live in the Wirral, were still using their 54-year old Bosch model fridge. The online competition received a considerable amount of entrants but Betty and Graham were the clear winners. Their prize was a brand new A+ energy rated replacement fridge. Douglas Herbison of AMDEA visited them at their Merseyside home to formally present them with the new energy efficient model and to help them dispatch their vintage appliance to an appropriate recycling facility. For more details visit the Time to Change website: www.t2c.org.uk |